“The Conservatives have wrested control of Scotland Yard from the Home Office and now have its top officers working to their agenda, a senior aide to the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has told the Guardian.”

Does that include “operational issues” as well – such as the policing of public demonstrations and managing the Counter Terrorism Command and the Special Branch?

If so, I think we should know. Up to now, the bipartisan political line been that “operational issues” are a matter for the Police to decide.

Bob B;

You say;

“Does that include “operational issues” as well [because] [u]p to now, the bipartisan political line been that “operational issues” are a matter for the Police to decide”.

This should give you your answer;

“But, [Johnson] claims, the new approach did not amount to the politicisation of policing”

So, yes it does!

Policing was already politicised regardless of their denials.

Amusing to see Selma Yakoub with a cringing police officer abasing himself before her.

Policing is a political matter by definition.

“Policing is a political matter by definition.”

In an obvious sense politicians decide funding and pass legislation determining due process at law, what constitutes unlawful behaviour and which defines the scale of punishments deemed appropriate for breaches of the law. Politicians make or fire senior appointments in the police force subject to due process. But so far, politicians have stuck to a bipartisan rule that the police are left to decide operational issues.

I think we are entitled to know whether any of this has changed and to know just what is the new “agenda” the Metropolitan Police are now claimed working to which they did not in the past. Specifically, what is the evidence that the Metropolitan Police are indeed complying with this new “agenda”?